Hydrangea plant named &#39;HORE0031&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘HORE0031’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with strong and sturdy stems; freely and uniformly flowering habit; mophead-type inflorescences with numerous light red purple-colored sterile flowers that become darker red purple with development; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HORE0031’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HORE0031’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Velp and Reeuwijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and freely-branching Hydrangea plants with strong sturdy stems, large inflorescences with numerous attractive sterile flowers and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2011 in Velp, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-04, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-73, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands in June, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands since August, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HORE0031’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HORE0031’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate         growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit with strong and sturdy stems.     -   4. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.     -   5. Mophead-type inflorescences with numerous light red         purple-colored sterile flowers that become darker red purple         with development.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have lighter red purple-colored         sterile flower sepals than plants of the female parent         selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely flowering than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are         light red purple in color whereas sterile flower sepals of the         male parent selection are white in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hopaline’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Hopaline’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have stronger stems than plants         of ‘Hopaline’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Hydrangea are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘Hopaline’.     -   3. Sterile flower sepals of plants of the new Hydrangea are         darker red purple in color than sterile flower sepals of plants         of ‘Hopaline’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HORE0031’ during an early stage of development.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical developing inflorescence of ‘HORE0031’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical leaf of ‘HORE0031’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘HORE0031’ at a stage of full development.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the summer in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Reeuwijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 20° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from about averaged 12° C. to 22° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea are typically not treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘HORE0031’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-04, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 12-00-73, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 20° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             months at temperatures about 20° C. to 30° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and rounded plant             habit; overall plant shape, broadly obovate; strong and             sturdy stems; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit             and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 29.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 44.6 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about             eleven lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Length.—About 14.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 60° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Close to 145A. Developed: Close to             143A; when woody, close to 199C and 200A.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Medium. Size: About 1 mm by 0.75 mm.             Color: Close to N186C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 10.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Truncate to cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth to slightly             rugose, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker than 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 144A and             146B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between 139A and 147A; venation, close to 145A. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 145A to 145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to             4 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small             inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type             terminal panicles; panicles rounded and flattened globular             in shape; flowers face upright to outwardly depending on             their position in the inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about three months after planting; flowering             begins in the late spring and is continuous until late             summer in Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about five days on             the plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers             last about six weeks on the plant, sterile flowers             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 35             fertile flowers per panicle and about 130 sterile flowers             per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 10.6 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 15.4 cm.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Color: Close to between 150D             and 155A towards the base fading to close to N144D and at             the base, close to 143A.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to 145D.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 6 mm.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3.9 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1.6 cm.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.75 mm.             Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to NN155D. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155D.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.75 mm.             Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to NN155D. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155D.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 143B fading towards the base to             close to N144D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 143A             fading towards the base to close to N144D. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A fading towards the             base to close to 145C.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four or             occasionally five in a single whorl. Length: About 2.1 cm.             Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to roughly             deltoid. Apex: Broadly acutely obtuse. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire, occasionally with one or two small             teeth. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to NN155C fading towards the apex to close to 145D, 150D and             lighter than 150D; base tinged with close to 65B to 65C.             When opening, lower surface: Close to between 69D and NN155C             fading towards the apex to close to 145D, 150D and lighter             than 150D. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             NN155A to NN155B fading towards the apex to close to 145B;             base, strongly tinged with close to 65A to 65C; color             becoming predominantly more red purple with development.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 10°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 145D.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45°             from branch axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte.             Color: Close to 157D.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155C. Anther length: About 0.75 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155C. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils:             Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About             1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to             157D. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to             145D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155C. Anther length: About 0.75 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155C. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils:             Pistil quantity per flower: Three. Pistil length: About             1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to             157D. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to             145D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production     conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘HORE0031’ as illustrated and described. 